Decon

Paintwork decontamination, or the ‘decon wash’ stage is simply removing the kind of embedded contaminants that cannot be eradicated with washing alone. This important car care process reaches deeper into the surface than more regular maintenance washes and valeting can, removing all sorts of ingrained impurities, and setting you on the correct path for further paint correction and finishing.

Basically speaking, decontamination removes the contaminants that, if left for an extended period, will cause irreparable damage to paintwork, it also eradicates the risk of these harmful particles and impurities interfering with subsequent processes. But for decontamination to be effective, specialist detailing products must employed to both physically and chemically remove these hardy contaminants. These products are available separately or in our Decontamination Kit. 

After your pre-wash, snow foam and contact wash, the decontamination process is split into three stages; first chemical removal of sharp metal particles, followed by chemical removal of sticky contaminants, and finally physical removal of other bonded contaminants such as environmental fall-out, inorganic contaminants like overspray, and organic contamination such as protein and mineral deposits from bird droppings, along with tree sap.

Metal contamination removal is the first process. These sharp metal particles come chiefly from hot brake dust and quickly embed themselves in paintwork, often appearing as rusty spots. The only way to eradicate this kind of contamination safely is by dissolving through a chemical reaction. This why the decon wash stage involves using a product specially formulated for ferrous material removal - Iron Out Contaminant Remover. This product is simply sprayed onto all areas of the paint and glass, left for a few seconds to react (the chemical reaction turns the solution blood red), and then the harmful particles will be suspended in the solution, away from the paintwork, allowing them to be rinsed away.

Removal of stubborn sticky contaminates such as tar, adhesive residues, tree sap, rubber and fuel staining requires the use of ObliTARate Tar & Glue Remover, or ObliTARate Gel, these solvent-based detailing products quickly melts through these oil-based stains, allowing them to be wiped away with a microfibre cloth.

Finally the last of the inorganic contaminants are physically pulled out of the surfaces using clay and Glide Clay Bar Lube. The clay itself can come in the form of our traditional kaolin Clay Bar, or as a Clay Pad for use with our ergonomic Handi Puck. We also have an inclusive Clay Bar Kit, which includes Glide and our Clay Bar. 

You can learn much more about using these products in our article How to Safely Decontaminate Your Paintwork.